Shri Hari Stotram: Sanskrit Text, Meaning & Benefits
Shri Hari Stotram — Sanskrit Text
जगज्जालपालं चलत्कण्ठमालं
शरच्चन्द्रभालं महादैत्यकालम् ।
नभोनीलकायं दुरावारमायं
सुपद्मासहायं भजेऽहं भजेऽहम् ॥१॥
सदाम्भोधिवासं गलत्पुष्पहासं
जगत्सन्निवासं शतादित्यभासम् ।
गदाचक्रशस्त्रं लसत्पीतवस्त्रं
हसच्चारुवक्त्रं भजेऽहं भजेऽहम् ॥२॥
रमाकण्ठहारं श्रुतिव्रातसारं
जलान्तर्विहारं धराभारहारम् ।
चिदानन्दरूपं मनोज्ञस्वरूपं
धृतानेकरूपं भजेऽहं भजेऽहम् ॥३॥
जराजन्महीनं परानन्दपीनं
समाधानलीनं सदैवानवीनम् ।
जगज्जन्महेतुं सुरानीककेतुं
त्रिलोकैकसेतुं भजेऽहं भजेऽहम् ॥४॥
कृताम्नायगानं खगाधीशयानं
विमुक्तेर्निदानं हरारातिमानम् ।
स्वभक्तानुकूलं जगद्वृक्षमूलं
निरस्तार्तशूलं भजेऽहं भजेऽहम् ॥५॥
समस्तामरेशं द्विरेफाभकेशं
जगद्बिम्बलेशं हृदाकाशदेशम् ।
सदा दिव्यदेहं विमुक्ताखिलेहं
सुवैकुण्ठगेहं भजेऽहं भजेऽहम् ॥६॥
सुरालिबलिष्ठं त्रिलोकीवरिष्ठं
गुरूणां गरिष्ठं स्वरूपैकनिष्ठम् ।
सदा युद्धधीरं महावीरवीरं
महाम्भोधितीरं भजेऽहं भजेऽहम् ॥७॥
रमावामभागं तलानग्रनागं
कृताधीनयागं गतारागरागम् ।
मुनीन्द्रैः सुगीतं सुरैः संपरीतं
गुणौघैरतीतं भजेऽहं भजेऽहम् ॥८॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
jagajjālapālaṃ calatkaṇṭhamālaṃ
śaraccandrabhālaṃ mahādaityakālam |
nabhonīlakāyaṃ durāvāramāyaṃ
supadmāsahāyaṃ bhaje'haṃ bhaje'ham ||1||
sadāmbhodhivāsaṃ galatpuṣpahāsaṃ
jagatsannivāsaṃ śatādityabhāsam |
gadācakraśastraṃ lasatpītavastraṃ
hasaccāruvaktraṃ bhaje'haṃ bhaje'ham ||2||
ramākaṇṭhahāraṃ śrutivrātasāraṃ
jalāntarvihāraṃ dharābhārahāram |
cidānandarūpaṃ manojñasvarūpaṃ
dhṛtānekarūpaṃ bhaje'haṃ bhaje'ham ||3||
jarājanmahīnaṃ parānandapīnaṃ
samādhānalīnaṃ sadaivānavīnam |
jagajjanmahetuṃ surānīkaketuṃ
trilokaikasetuṃ bhaje'haṃ bhaje'ham ||4||
kṛtāmnāyagānaṃ khagādhīśayānaṃ
vimukternidānaṃ harārātimānam |
svabhaktānukūlaṃ jagadvṛkṣamūlaṃ
nirastārtaśūlaṃ bhaje'haṃ bhaje'ham ||5||
samastāmareśaṃ dvirephābhakeśaṃ
jagadbimbaleśaṃ hṛdākāśadeśam |
sadā divyadehaṃ vimuktākhilehaṃ
suvaikuṇṭhagehaṃ bhaje'haṃ bhaje'ham ||6||
surālibaliṣṭhaṃ trilokīvariṣṭhaṃ
gurūṇāṃ gariṣṭhaṃ svarūpaikaniṣṭham |
sadā yuddhadhīraṃ mahāvīravīraṃ
mahāmbhodhitīraṃ bhaje'haṃ bhaje'ham ||7||
ramāvāmabhāgaṃ talānagranāgaṃ
kṛtādhīnayāgaṃ gatārāgarāgam |
munīndraiḥ sugītaṃ suraiḥ saṃparītaṃ
guṇaughairatītaṃ bhaje'haṃ bhaje'ham ||8||
Meaning
“I worship Him, I worship Him!” — the joyous refrain of this hymn to Lord Hari (Vishnu). He is the protector of the web of the worlds, wearing a swaying garland, his forehead bright as the autumn moon, the destroyer (Kala) of great demons; his body dark as the sky, master of inscrutable maya, ever accompanied by Lakshmi seated on the lotus.
The verses describe Vishnu reclining on the ocean of milk, his smile like a blooming flower, the dwelling-place of all the worlds, radiant as a hundred suns, bearing the mace and discus, clad in shining yellow silk. He is the essence of the Vedas, sporting in the waters, remover of the earth’s burden, of the nature of pure consciousness-bliss, assuming many forms. He is free of old age and birth, full of supreme bliss, ever-fresh, the cause of the world’s creation, the banner of the gods, the one bridge across the three worlds. Devotee-loving, the root of the world-tree, remover of pain’s thorn; lord of all immortals, dwelling in the lotus-space of the heart, of eternally divine form, whose abode is glorious Vaikuntha. He is the strongest, the most exalted in the three worlds, the heaviest (greatest) of gurus, ever steady in battle, hero of heroes; with Lakshmi at his left, resting on the serpent Shesha, beyond all attachment, beautifully sung by sages and surrounded by gods, transcending the flood of all qualities.
About this Stotra
Shri Hari Stotram is a lyrical Vishnu hymn traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Composed in the flowing bhujangaprayata metre, its hallmark is the repeated, ecstatic refrain “bhaje'haṃ bhaje'haṃ” (“I worship, I worship”), which gives the recitation a rolling, meditative momentum. Each verse is a cascade of epithets celebrating the beauty, power and transcendence of Hari, making the stotra both a devotional outpouring and a compact theology of Vishnu as the Supreme Reality.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
The hymn is recited to kindle pure devotion to Vishnu, to purify the mind, and to invoke the Lord’s protection over “the web of the worlds.” Because Hari is praised as “vimukter nidanam” (the cause of liberation) and the “one bridge across the three worlds,” it is treasured as a moksha-giving stotra. Regular recitation is said to dissolve sorrow (“nirastarta-shulam” — remover of the thorn of pain), bring mental peace, and cultivate single-pointed remembrance of God. Its musical refrain makes it a favourite for group chanting and personal japa alike.
Astrological Relevance
As a hymn to Vishnu, the lord of preservation, Shri Hari Stotram supports the benefic, sustaining energies of the horoscope and strengthens Jupiter (Guru), the great natural benefic and karaka of wisdom, dharma and grace. It is a gentle, sattvic remedy recommended during difficult dashas for restoring hope and stability, and for those seeking spiritual refuge (sharanagati) when worldly supports fail — matters of the 9th and 12th houses. Vishnu worship also pairs with Lakshmi-sadhana for prosperity, since the hymn repeatedly invokes the Lord together with Rama (Lakshmi). Thursdays and Ekadashi amplify its effect.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Bathe and sit facing east before an image of Vishnu or Lakshmi-Narayana. Light a ghee lamp and offer tulsi, flowers and incense. After bowing to your guru and the Lord, recite the eight verses melodiously, letting the refrain “bhaje'haṃ bhaje'haṃ” carry the mind into devotion. It may be chanted once or in cycles of three or eleven, daily, ideally during morning worship. Maintaining a calm, surrendered attitude is more important than speed.
Best Day & Time
Thursdays (Guruvar), Ekadashi tithis and the early morning Brahma-muhurta are most auspicious. The stotra may also be sung on Saturdays, when Vishnu worship is recommended to soothe Saturn’s effects, and during the Chaturmas period dedicated to Vishnu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the refrain “bhaje'ham bhaje'ham” mean?
It means “I worship Him, I worship Him.” The repetition expresses the devotee’s wholehearted, joyful surrender to Lord Hari.
Who is “Hari” in this stotra?
Hari is Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Preserver, here described with Lakshmi (Rama) at his side, resting on the serpent Shesha and bearing the conch, discus and mace.
What are the benefits of reciting Shri Hari Stotram?
It cultivates devotion, brings mental peace and protection, removes sorrow, and is regarded as a hymn that leads toward liberation (moksha).
Waves of devotion in Shankaracharya's hymn to Hari
The Hari Stotram attributed to Adi Shankaracharya is a hymn of pure devotional celebration, its language luminous with sensory imagery: the cosmic ocean-protector, the garland swaying at his throat, the radiant form of the one who sustains all worlds. The refrain Bhaje'ham bhaje'ham - I worship, I worship - is remarkable for its simplicity. In a tradition that often reaches for elaborate theological formulation, this direct repetition of the act of worship itself is deeply moving. It suggests that the truest articulation of devotion is not description but the repeated, wholehearted act of turning toward the divine.
This stotram is well suited to daily Vishnu puja, to Ekadashi observances, and to Vaishnava celebration days throughout the year. It is also chanted by devotees as a standalone morning prayer, its eight verses completing in just a few minutes while leaving the mind oriented toward Hari for the remainder of the day. The attribution to Shankaracharya - famous for his non-dualistic Advaita philosophy - is a reminder that, in the Indian tradition, the highest philosophical understanding and the warmest personal devotion need not be in conflict. Even the greatest jnani can bow before the beauty of the Lord and say, simply, I worship him.